Direct ethanol metabolite ethyl sulfate as an useful diagnostic and therapeutic marker of alcohol consumption

Abstract

Accurate self report strategies, biological state markers, combinations of alternative biomarkers, and combinations of biomarkers and self reports capable of monitoring alcohol consumption with a high sensitivity and specificity over a broad time spectrum are disclosed. In particular, the use of ethyl sulfate (monoethylsulfate, molecular weight 126 g / mol, C2H5SO4H) to elucidate ethanol intake is described in the context of screening monitoring in various settings, e.g. a) after liver transplantation b) methadone maintenance patients with hepatitis C and comorbid excessive alcohol use c) underage drinking d) rehabilitation programs for alcoholics motivational feedback to improve knowledge on drinking patterns differentiating moderate / social drinking from problematic / harmful drinking differential diagnosis (e.g. elevated transaminases) evaluating treatment programs and drug trials elucidating the role of neuropsychological impairment following alcoholisation (i.e. hangover state) which plays a major role in accidents, disclosing recent drinking in social drinkers in risky situations (driving, workplaces, pregnancy (fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)), and general monitoring.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 578,314, filed Jun. 10, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention is directed at methods for detecting and / or quantifying the ethanol intake in humans and / or non-human animals. [0004] 2. Related Art and Introduction [0005] The global burden of alcohol induced diseases exceeds those induced by tobacco and is on a par with the burden resulting from unsafe sex practices world-wide (WHO, Global Status Report on Alcohol, 1999). The currently used indirect biological state markers of alcohol intake showshortcomings that limit their value. These include: [0006] the time spectrum of detection they reflect (e.g. serum ethanol detects only recent use within hours); [0007] influences of age, gender and a variety of substances and non-alcohol-associated diseases (Gi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0088] The presence or level of EtS in said body sample may be determined via methods inclduing, but not limited to, GC/MS, LC/MS, LC/MS-MS, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), magnetic resonance technology (NMR), Densitometry, Spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography (TLC), capillary electophoresis (CE), transdermal application(s) or fluoresence polarisation.

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Problems solved by technology

Those markers are disadvantageously also influenced by body mass index (BMI) and medication thereby limiting their value.

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